Customer Reviews

Twitter For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this book after finding just enough information elsewhere to get me addicted to Twitter. The information I was able to find was a bit vague and seemed to be more for the veteran than the newbie. Then along came "Twitter for Dummies" and all of my questions were answered. This book not only explains how you do everything, but why you would want to in the first place. It is written with a clear understanding and a true passion for the service. Twitter is such a fast evolving service that is used by so many different people and organizations for so many different reasons that no book could ever cover it all. Fortunately, the authors have provided additional resources which will provide whatever updated or changing information you may need. But be forewarned, if you are just a casual user of Twitter, this book may make you a true addict.

As with other "for Dummies" books, "Twitter for Dummies" is broken down into convenient, independent sections which contain all of the necessary information a reader needs to gain a full understanding of each topic. Although a cover to cover read will give a reader a somewhat unnecessary review of the basics required for each section, the authors have placed enough little factoids and bits of information (@Pistachio's Easter eggs) throughout the book that you will want to read it all.

If you purchase this book, you can find me on Twitter at @Headshota23 (shameless plug). I'm sure I will see you there.

Should this review be just 140 characters? I don't think it would be helpful; or how about: "Great book. Buy it. Great for newbies and sort-of-newbies."

I had been on Twitter for several months, but could never really get a handle on what the benefits were, how to "talk the Twitter language" and how to manage all the tweets I was getting.

Yes, the book starts with the basics of signing on (well, it IS a "Dummies" book), but even some of the basics were things I needed to know. The authors are also very upfront that things are constantly changing; but this being Twitter, they'll also provide updates via @dummies.

The book is well organized and answered all my questions so that I'm not afraid to go online (or on-mobile!) and dive in. In fact, the authors encourage you to jump into conversations and not be shy.

Lots of good tips, lots of things to do on Twitter.

If you've been using Twitter for a while and feel you know you way around, this book isn't for you. It's for the rest of us--those of us who may have put our toes in but needed to be up to submerge ourselves (bad metaphor?), or for those who may have been afraid of this new social medium. Happy tweets!

I have been using Twitter in my business for several months now without a real understanding of all the ins and outs of the service. There was aspects of the service that I wasn't taking advantage of because I had no idea they existed. I was in essence leaving money on the table.

I now have a much clearer understanding of Twitter and all its features. More importantly, I now have a plan to use Twitter to build real lasting relationships for my business. Twitter for Dummies is THE source for not only beginners but for those who already have an account but don't know what RT means or what a #hashtag is or for those who are lost for ways to create lasting, meaningful relationships using social media.

Twitter will soon be the king of all social media so the time is now to jump on the train. Twitter for Dummies is your boarding pass.

Lets connect on Twitter @dennis_gill.

Having a stream of ideas, thoughts and emotions from people you care about flowing past that you can dip in and out of when you wish is a profound change. Twitter for Dummies explains clearly, thoughtfully and with copious examples how this quiet revolution in communications works, and how you can take part in it. The sparkling conversational tone draws you in while providing clear instructions and very sensible advice. Though a long-time Twitter user myself, I found things I didn't know here too. I'd recommend it for anyone wanting to become part of the new social web.

Twitter For Dummies should be called Twitter for Everyone. I may be considered a pretty heavy Twitter user and was #herebeforeoprah but even I really enjoyed getting into the heads of Laura @pistachio Fitton, Michael @gruen Gruen, and Leslie @geechee_girl Poston.

If I were to boil Twitter for Dummies down, I would say that you can't dumb down Laura, Michael, or Leslie -- they're leaders in Twitterville and you really cannot be disappointed if you grab the book.

For me, the entire book only took me the length of a Hollywood movie to read because I am pretty advanced; however, I must say that I they threw in kitchen sink in this book, extending into lesser-used features such as the Public Timeline and really geeky command-line access to Twitter such as "d chrisabraham" or "follow chrisabraham," etc.

In fact, there's a whole chapter on rocking Twitter via SMS text-messaging, something that may be less relevant to the Twitterati but is very important to 75% of all cell phone users (and yes, I did make up that nuber, I think it is closer to 90%) who don't rock smartphones -- just be sure to make sure you get the unlimited texts plan if you plan to go with SMS or you'll be screwed.

Of course, everything is covered and covered again and you really need to be a moron if you can't sort yourself out with Twitter by the end of Part III -- but this is Twitter for Dummies and not Twitter for Morons (and, publishers, I am super interested in writing that book -- also, Twitter for Effen Morons) so there you go -- it is what it is. (Strangely enough, however, is that there isn't one mention of my beloved Android G1 phone! There's mentions of the iPhone, the Blackberry, and even Javascript phones but where the hell's my G1! OK, I am done.)

Well, at the start of this review, I said this was all about Laura Fitton, Michael Gruen, and Leslie Poston, and it is, but there's not a whole lot of them in I-III chapters. Part IV is when all the good stuff comes a-pouring through. Who else but the best of the best would engage issues like "Finding Your Tweet Voice," "Twitter for Business," "The Social Side of Twitter," and "Changing the World, One Tweet at a Time."

This is the kind of stuff that makes me want to rename this book from "Twitter for Dummies" to "Twitter for Everyone: From Total Newbie to Total Rockstar."

I think it's a well structured, richly informative, impressively approachable, and very practical guide for Twitter. It's written in plain language for easier digestion, equipping with a wealth of tips, how-to's, resources, anecdotes, direct linkages to the Web, and precautions. Although it feels like a little bit too long for a guide, particularly for the 140-character-limited texting social media (I'm only half serious).

Knowing nothing about Twitter before opening this book, I needed it to get me up and running quickly and painlessly. Allowing for the quips and tangents that seem a part of all Dummies books, the instructions were clear, concise and helpful - it told me what I needed to know. Just as useful were tips on etiquette and procedures that it is difficult to find out in any other way. The authors are users but not employees of Twitter and this helped give a more balanced view - even allowing an odd criticism to be aired. The acid test is did it get me up and running. Look me up at @Mikesvoice and see for yourself. I used nothing but the book to guide me.

I read 3 books on Twitter in 3 weeks ... This wasn't the most detailed of the 3 I read but it was a good overview -- I liked the humor and straightforward writing style of the authors

Luara Fitton, Michael E. Gruen ans Leslie Poston's TWITTER FOR DUMMIES may have been outdated by the time it came off the press. Twitter changes so fast that the only was to learn it is to become familiar with the basic terms (provided in this book) and then get out there and use it for a limited time every day. Choose different times of the day and night then your individual tweet may not get lost among the shear volume of tweets.
My advice is practice on friends and family before you tackle the mass of users. This is one title that could benefit from being an e-book with instant updates.
It is a huge world out there in Twitter land and many of the hints are good, but by now have been over used so much they resemble spam.
Nash Black, author of SANDPRINTS OF DEATH

The book is good as practically all books "for dummies" are, however in the case of twitter the client applications develop so fast that I don't think anybody could write this book and keep the pace with everything that is developing. My advice: start using twitter and you will learn (And will never cease to learn).
Juan J. Ramirez
HotSmart Plates inventor